International Mountain Day Highlights Youth’s Expression of the Environment

Event Details

Start: 11 December 2014

End: 11 December 2014

Venue: Kathmandu, Nepal

11 December 2014, Kathmandu, Nepal – WWF Nepal awarded three young filmmakers for their representation of ‘The Generation Green’ through a short film competition organized to mark International Mountain Day today. The competition organized in partnership with the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival used the medium of three-minute films to enable young people aged between 16 and 26 years to articulate their views on the environment and sustainable development of Nepal.

The competition received entries from 83 budding filmmakers from various districts of Nepal, out of which ten were shortlisted based on their originality, storytelling and production value by an independent and non-partial panel of judges representing film, media and conservation sectors. The competition was organized as part of WWF Nepal’s The Generation Green campaign launched in February 2014 that aims to bring together 500,000 youth in a collective movement for the environment and sustainable development of Nepal over the five-year campaign period.

The ten shortlisted films were screened and awards were presented to the top three on the occasion of International Mountain Day at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival. The top three winners were awarded with certificates and cash prizes worth Rs. 80,000, Rs. 60,000 and Rs. 40,000 respectively. In addition, the top five filmmakers will receive the opportunity to be mentored by an experienced and established filmmaker, SapanaSakya, under the TGG Mentorship Program for a duration of six months. Sakya is Public Media Director at the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) where she oversees funding support for independent filmmakers and coordinates CAAM’s talent development program.

“Penguin Revolution”, an animated video by Mr. IshanBhusal, was awarded the first prize for its quirky and satirical take on the irony of human intelligence when it comes to the environment and the need to respect nature and its powers.The video can be viewed from the link:

“Ghiling’s Greenhouse”, directed by Amitabh Raj Joshi, was awarded the second prize which centered on a remote village in Mustang and the difference that education can make for Nepal’s development as well as the environment. The video can be viewed from the link:

“Nature Never Forgives”, directed by Shankar Dhital, was awarded the third prize which was based on performance art to portray the impact of negative actions on nature. The video can be viewed from the link:

“The Generation Green is a medium for youth to engage in issues that they consider important for the environment and development of Nepal,” stated Dr. Ghana S Gurung, Senior Conservation Program Director of WWF Nepal. “It is encouraging to note the positivity reflected by the youth through their expressions in film and their comprehension of issues that will enable them to make smart choices for the environment.”